Table top



5, 1941- P. D. CAMPBELL 2,251,395

I TABLE Filed Nov. 20, 1 939 INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oETicE TABLE TOP Phillip D. Campbell, Kansas City, Mo. Application November 20, 1939, Serial No. 305,225

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in table tops and particularly to table tops having means for securing a table cover sheet thereto.

There are in general use many small tables, such as card tables, etc., in which it is desirable to change the top cover at frequent intervals to present a different color scheme, different designs, and to maintain a neat appearance.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a table top having resilient means associated therewith whereby a table cover member is secured under tension to the table top.

Another object is the provision of a table top having a removable frame, movable to and from a position about the table top whereby the table cover sheet is secured and released from a stretched position on said table top.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease of operation, and adaptability to various shaped table tops.

With these as well as other objects, which will appear during the specification in view, reference will be had to the drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table top embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the table top with the band removed.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the securing band.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view of a portion of the table top.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the longitudinally corrugated member, mounted on the table top; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one corner of a cover sheet adapted for use on this table.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate like parts and the numeral ll! is a rectangular table top mounted on supporting legs l2.

The method of supporting the table is not material since it is only necessary that the table top has an edge wall M for the support of the longitudinally corrugated member l6. While the table top shown is rectangular in form, however, any polygonal, round, elliptical or otherwise shaped top, might be used in carrying out the novel features of this invention, by making slight changes in the structure which would fall within the scope of the claims.

Table top ll), as shown, is provided with a top panel member l8 mounted in a formed frame 29 made up of strips of molding 22 mitered and secured together at the corner to present edge walls l4 and horizontally disposedledges 24, offset at to receive the top panel l8, and also offset at 28 to receive the cover band 30 so that it will be disposed in planar relation with the cover sheet, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.- The lower edge of wall member His .turned outwardly and upwardly to present a trough 32 having an upstanding outer wall 34 spaced apart from wall l4. 1

Secured by rivets 35 to wall I4 is a longitudinally corrugated member Hi. This member 16 is preferably madeof a resilient material and is adapted to be flexed to permit the positioning of the table cover sheet, as hereinafter described.

Punched out detentsor tines 38 are provided at the free edge of member 16 and are adapted to engage the marginal edge of the cover sheet 40.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that member I6 is secured at its upper edge to wall M so that as it is compressed, detents 38 will move away from the rivets and tend to draw the cover sheet taut.

The cover sheet 40 may be'made of paper, fabric, or any other suitable material, and for convenience and accuracy of placement on the table top, may be provided with marginal holes 42 that register with detents 38.

The outer frame or securing band member 30, clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 comprises side molding members 46 joined together by corner caps 48 to which they are rigidly attached in a suitable manner. The cross sectional contour of member 46 is angle shape presenting a horizontally disposed leg 50 and vertically disposed leg 52. When in the operative position on the table, leg 50 rests on the table top while leg 52 is spaced apart from wall M, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. An inturned flange 54 at the lower edge of leg 52 is adapted to register with wall 34 to limit its inward movement and to present a smooth edge which would not snag or otherwise injure the clothing of the parties using the table.

The inner face of leg 52 of member 46 is provided with a longitudinally, corrugated resilient strip 56, which is secured along its lower edge by rivets 58 thereto. These corrugations correspond to the corrugations in member l6 so that when the parts are in the operative position, corresponding corrugations of the two members will be in like relation.

When the parts are forced to position, as shown in Fig. 4, the frame 50 will be secured against accidental displacement by the inter-engaging of the parts as shown.

It will be noted that cover sheet 40 is disposed between the two corrugated members, which is being held under tension thereby. Should there develop any slack in the cover sheet, it would be taken up by the expanding of the corrugated parts to nest closer together. In other words, the corrugated members, as shown in the operative position in Fig. 4, are compressed to exert a pressure against the cover sheet, and if this pressure is released, the corrugations would become deeper and the width of the members would be foreshortened. It would be possible in many instances to make one of the corrugated members non-resilient without departing from the spirit of the invention, since a sufficient amount of take-up in the table cover sheet could be obtained. The extent and length of the corrugated members may be varied, also several separate corrugated sections might be used along one side of the table.

In the operation of this device, the cover sheet is first placed in position with detents 38 positioned in their corresponding holes 42, formed in the marginal edges of cover sheet 40, then the frame or band 30 is pressed to position to tension the cover sheet and to secure the frame against relative movement to the table top.

The table is now ready for use and the table cover sheet will remain in the stretched out position regardless of shrinking or stretching of the material from which it is made, because of the give and take between the two engaging resilient corrugated members.

It is apparent that many variations might be made in the structure of this device, without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is therefore, requested that I be limited only by the scope of the claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a table top having edge walls, of a longitudinally, undulated resilient member secured to each of said edge walls, and a band having inwardly projecting, resilient members adapted to be positioned on said table top to cooperate with said undulated members to secure the edges of a table cover sheet therebetween.

2. The combination with a table top having edge walls and a cover sheet adapted to extend over the table top and along said edge walls, of a longitudinally, undulated resilient members secured, at its one edge to each of said edge walls; a band adapted to be fitted over said table top; resilient, longitudinally, undulated strip carried by said band, adapted to interengage with said resilient members to secure the edges of said cover sheet therebetween.

3. The combination with a table top having edge walls and. a cover sheet adapted to extend over said table top and along said edge Walls, of a longitudinally, undulated, resilient member secured along its upper edge to each of a plurality of said edge walls; detents formed along the free edge of said members for engagement with the edge portion of said cover sheet and a band adapted to be fitted over said table top to force said detents downwardly to tension said table cloth.

4. The combination with a table top having edge Walls, of a longitudinally undulated member secured along each edge wall; a cover sheet adapted to extend over said table top and along said edge walls; a band carrying inwardly projeoting resilient members adapted to cooperate with said undulated members to secure said cover sheet under tension over said table top.

5. The combination with a table top having edge walls, of a frame adapted to circumscribe said table top to rest on the marginal edges thereof and extend downwardly in spaced relation to said edge walls; a longitudinally corrugated resilient member secured at its upper edge to said side wall and having detents adjacent its lower edge to engage the marginal edge of a table top cover; and a longitudinally corrugated, flexible strip secured along its lower edge to said frame adapted to inter-engage the corrugations of said corrugated member to engage and stretch said table top cover.

PHILLIP D. CAMPBELL. 

